Eric stepped to the desk first. Mr. Gordon looked up.
"You! Williams, I wonder that you have the audacity to speak to me. Go--I have nothing to say to you!"
"But, sir, I want to tell you that--"
"Your guilt is only too clear, Williams. You will hear more of this. Go, I tell you."
Eric's passion overcame him; he stamped furiously on the ground, and burst out, "I will speak, sir; you have been unjust to me for a long time, but I will not be--"
Mr. Gordon's cane fell sharply across the boy's back; he stopped, glared for a moment; and then saying:
"Very well, sir! I shall tell Dr. Rowlands that you strike before you hear me," he angrily left the room, and slammed the door violently behind him.
Before Mr. Gordon had time to recover from his astonishment, Russell stood by him.
"Well, my boy," said the master, softening in a moment, and laying his hand gently on Russell's head, "what have you to say? You cannot tell how I rejoice, amid the deep sorrow that this has caused me, to find that you at least are uncontaminated. But I knew, Edwin, that I could trust you."
"O sir, I come to speak for Eric--for Williams." Mr. Gordon's brow darkened again, and the storm gathered, as he interrupted vehemently, "Not a word, Russell; not a word. This is the second time that he has wilfully deceived me; and this time he has involved others too in his base deceit."